DoorDash is available in over 80 Canadian cities and accepts bike and car drivers equally — making it one of the most accessible gig income sources in the country. Here is how the pay works, how to maximize earnings, and what to expect after expenses.
How DoorDash works
You download the DoorDash Driver (Dasher) app, create an account, and schedule a “Dash” — or use Dash Now to go online immediately when availability exists in your zone. When a restaurant has an order ready near you, the app offers it. You see the estimated pay and delivery distance before accepting.
You pick up the order from the restaurant, deliver it to the customer’s address, and receive the payment in your account.
How pay is calculated
Each delivery has three components:
1. Base pay
Set by DoorDash — based on estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order. Ranges from roughly $2 to $10 per delivery in Canadian markets. Short, nearby orders pay less base; long or complex orders pay more.
2. Promotions
| Promotion type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Peak Pay | Adds $1–$5 per delivery during high-demand periods (lunch, dinner) |
| Challenges | Bonus for completing a set number of deliveries in a time window (e.g., +$20 for 15 deliveries in 5 hours) |
| Earn by time (select markets) | Guaranteed hourly rate during scheduled dashes (not widely available in Canada yet) |
3. Tips
Customers tip through the app or in cash. Tips are 100% yours — DoorDash does not take a cut of tips. Tips average $3–$7 per order in Canadian cities and represent 30–50% of total earnings. Contactless, prompt delivery and following instructions (e.g., “leave at door”) drives higher tip rates.
Typical per-order breakdown:
- Base pay: $3.50
- Peak Pay (if active): $2.00
- Customer tip: $4.00
- Total per delivery: $9.50
For a Dasher completing 2.5 deliveries per hour (typical in a busy urban zone), that’s $23.75/hr gross.
Realistic earnings by city
| City | Gross/hr (off-peak) | Gross/hr (dinner peak) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $16–$20 | $22–$30 | High density; many restaurants; short distances |
| Vancouver | $15–$19 | $20–$27 | Hilly routes slow bikers; car/ebike ideal |
| Calgary | $14–$18 | $19–$25 | Suburban sprawl means longer distances |
| Ottawa | $14–$18 | $19–$24 | Good university zone demand |
| Smaller cities | $12–$16 | $16–$22 | Fewer orders; more idle time between dashes |
Which vehicle earns the most?
| Vehicle | Gross advantage | Cost advantage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Access all zones, more orders accepted | High: gas, insurance, maintenance, depreciation | Suburbs, cold weather, large orders |
| E-bike | Fast in dense urban areas, no traffic | Very low: charging only | Downtown Toronto/Vancouver core |
| Bicycle | Zero fuel cost | Nearly zero ongoing cost | Warm months, central city |
| Motorcycle/Scooter | Faster parking, smaller fuel cost | Moderate: gas, insurance | Mixed urban |
Bike/e-bike Dashers in dense urban areas often net more per hour than car drivers once expenses are removed — especially in Toronto’s entertainment district or downtown Vancouver where parking delays and fuel costs erode car earnings.
How to maximize DoorDash earnings
Peak hour strategy
The three peak windows are:
- Lunch: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm weekdays
- Dinner: 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm daily
- Late night: 10 pm – midnight on Friday/Saturday
Schedule your Dashes for these windows. DoorDash sometimes shows “busy” indicators on the zone map before you start — prioritize zones highlighted as busy.
Decline low-value orders
A quick evaluation before accepting:
- Is total pay ÷ total driving distance ≥ $1/km? If not, strongly consider declining.
- Is the restaurant known for long wait times? Add extra time cost.
- Is the drop-off in a difficult area (high-rise no lobby access, gated community)?
Accepting every order tanks your effective hourly rate. The freedom to decline is a core advantage of the contractor model.
Multi-apping
Many experienced Dashers run DoorDash simultaneously with Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes. When DoorDash is slow, you stay active on another platform. This eliminates the dead time between orders that pulls down your hourly average.
Maintain Dasher ratings
Customers rate you after each delivery (1–5 stars). A rating above 4.7 maintains your active status. A sustained low rating can deactivate your account. Simply following delivery instructions and being prompt maintains a strong rating without extra effort.
Expenses and taxes
As a self-employed contractor, you pay income tax on net earnings (after expenses). Key deductibles:
- Vehicle costs at business-use percentage (gas, insurance, maintenance)
- Phone and data plan (business-use portion)
- Insulated delivery bags (100% deductible)
- E-bike or bicycle maintenance (business-use portion)
- Car washing related to delivery work
You must keep a mileage log for all delivery-related driving.
DoorDash does not withhold any income tax from your pay. You report earnings on T2125 and pay tax (plus CPP self-employment contributions) at filing time. If you expect to owe more than $3,000, pay quarterly instalments to CRA to avoid interest.
For a complete walkthrough of platform worker taxes — GST/HST rules (the $30,000 threshold), T2125 filing, vehicle expense methods, and CPP calculation — see the platform worker tax guide Canada.
To compare DoorDash with other delivery platforms, see best food delivery apps to work for in Canada. For Instacart’s grocery delivery model, see how to make money with Instacart Canada.